ITP Aero participates in a transatlantic commercial flight powered 100% by SAF.
ITP Aero is responsible for the design, development, production and assembly of the low-pressure turbines of the Rolls-Royce Trent 1000, which powered Virgin Atlantic's Boeing 787 flight from London to New York powered exclusively by 100% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).
Virgin Atlantic's Flight100 marks the culmination of a year of radical collaboration to demonstrate the capability of SAF as a safe drop-in replacement for fossil-derived jet fuel, compatible with today's engines, airframes and fuel infrastructure.
The SAF used on Flight100 is a dual blend: 88% HEFA (Hydroprocessed Esters and Fatty Acids) supplied by AirBP and 12% SAK (Synthetic Aromatic Kerosene) supplied by Virent, a subsidiary of Marathon Petroleum Corporation. The HEFA is made from waste fats, while the SAK is made from plant sugars, with the remainder of plant proteins, oil and fibres continuing into the food chain. SAK is needed in 100% SAF blends to give the fuel the required aromatics for engine function.
To deliver Net Zero 2050, innovation and investment in all available feedstocks and technologies must be capitalised on to maximise the volumes of SAF, and the research and development required to bring new zero-emission aircraft to market must be sustained.
Source: ITP Aero y Rolls Royce
